Agenda and minutes

·        To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

The Committee scrutinised the following cabinet items:

Revenue Budget Update and Monitoring Report 2020-21

The Committee was presented with the Revenue Budget Update and Monitoring Report 2020-21 which provided an overview of the financial implications of COVID 19 on the Council’s Financial Resources and 2020/21 Budget.

Detailed in the circulated reported it stated that Welsh Government had funded £424k for loss of income for the Arts Venues during the period April to June, to which it was asked how that money had been utilised. It was noted that the Council had budgeted for income for the whole of the year; the venues had been closed for nine months, and staff expected them to be closed for the remaining three months of the year. This money was mentioned to be the total value of income that the Council would have been generating, which covered the costs therefore all costs had been re-funded. It was added that the Arts Venues staff had not been furloughed, and instead had been re-deployed.

In relation to residential placements for children at risk, the report stated that there had been an £385k overspend; it was asked whether the Council was anticipating that the need for more residential placements would increase further. Officers confirmed that this year there had been just over two additional placements; the budget had been increase by two placements as there were now 11 children in placement and staff were expecting it to stay around this number for some time. It was noted that the Council were not anticipating additional residential care need, above the 11 that were mentioned, although this was difficult to assess. Officers anticipated that there would be increased pressures on the Looked After Children (LAC) system as a result of the impact of COVID 19; however, expected that this could be dealt with within the foster care systems, as most additional care placements would be in foster care and not in residential care.

The report highlighted that Welsh Government funding was being made available for the period July to March, to increase the hourly rate paid (by £1 per hour) to providers of domiciliary care who were experiencing additional costs due to the pandemic; it was asked whether increase in pay was just for the external providers. It was noted that Welsh Government had made various packages of additional funding available to residential and home care; in terms of the home care, the £1 pay increase was for the external providers, however the Council would be reimbursed £1 for both external and internal providers, therefore the in-house services would also be benefiting from this.

The Communication and Marketing overspend was stated to be at £26k due to additional costs incurred from the impact COVID 19, such as signage, banners; Welsh Government had only funded 25% of costs and Members mentioned that this percentage was disappointing. Officers mentioned that Welsh Government had provided a significant amount of financial support as highlighted in the report, however in some instances they had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Committee noted the Cabinet Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2020/21.

To resolve to exclude the public for the following items pursuant to Regulation 4 (3) and (5) of Statutory Instrument 2001 No.2290 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972

·        To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

The Committee scrutinised the following private Cabinet item:

Delivery of Disabled Facility Grants for Bridgend County Borough Council

Members were presented with a private report on the Delivery of Disabled Facility Grants for Bridgend County Borough Council.

Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by Cabinet.